Surveying instrument



Mar. 20, 1923.

W. H. MANNING.

SURVEYING msmumem.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

FILED MAN. 9. I920.

Mar. 20, 1923.

w. H.IMANNING.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT FILED MAR. 9,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mar.20,1923. 1,448,931.

W. H. MANNING.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT.

FILED MAR- 9- 1920- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,2 FIG. 10.

Mar. 20, 1923. 1,448,931.

W. H. MANNING.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT.

FILED IIAB. 9. 1920. 4 sums-sum 4.

Patented Mar. 20, 1923.

WARREN H. MANNING, OF BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed March 9, 1920.

To all Il /l0? it may concern:

Be it known that I. WARREN H. MANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Billeriea, in the county of Middlesex and State of lilassachusetts, have invented new and usei'ul Improvements in Surveying Instruments, oi which the following is a speciiieation.

This invention relates particularly to an instrument for use in surveying land. and is embodied in a portable instrument including a carrier, adapted to he held by or to be attached to an operator, a reel mounted on the frame and storing a measuring strip of indeterminate length, and a cyclometer mounted on. the frame and geared to a pulley adapted to he engaged by a measuring strip running); either horizontally or vertically from a point near the reel. the construction and arrangement being such that when one end ot the strip is held at a starting-point and the instrument is moved away from said point by the operator, or when the strip is dropped vertically by a weight, the withdrawal of the strip from the reel operates the cyclometer to register the length of the withdrawn portion of the strip and the distance traveled by the operator from the starting point. or the distance of the drop of the weight.

The invention also embodies a device for Winding; the n'leasuring strip back onto the reel, and for quickly stopping the movement of the reel. a means for supporting a surveyor-s compass to give angles of direction. a hand or Locke level. or telescope to give horizontal elevations, a reeled record str p having g aduated squares to serve as a scale and to h held in position to receive inlllfi'lll written by the operator and a sliding: pi'otrnctor with the degrees marked to correspond to the compass and with openings so arranged as to permit the drawing of a line at any degree on the record strip.

The invention. also embodied in other improvements incidental to the general purp ses of the invention.

)1' the accompanying drawings forming a part oi" this spm-ilication,-

Figure l is a plan view of a surveying in- :-trl1illil]t embodying: the invention.

Figure 2 a side view of the same, parts being shown in section.

Serial No. 364,545.

Figure 3 is an end view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the plane of line 4 4- of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing the reel spindle.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of one of the reel-engaging members.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view, showinn" a manually operated reel stop.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the table plate.

Figure ll. is a sectional view on the plane of line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a side view of the table plate, parts being; shown in section.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the record strip reel.

Figure 14 is a sectional view on the plane of line 1%1 l of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a sketch view, showing the manner of use of the instrument.

The same reference characters indicate the some parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents a portable frame provided with a shank 13. which may serve as a handle to he grasped by the operator. or as a member to engage a tripod sup porting the instrument, the shank 13 being provided with a socket to receive a stud on the tripod. I prefer the shank 13 to be separahly connected with the frame by a threaded bolt 13, and a clamping nut 13, so that the shank may he removed.

The frame. as here shown, is an elongated angular strip or plate. although it may be otherwise formed. Mounted on the frame is u cyelometer. preferably of the well known Veeder type. fully illustrated and described by Letters Patent of the United States, No. 548.482. dated October 22, 1895. The said cvclometer includes a casing l4 attached to the carrier and having a sight aperture 15. an actuating shaft 16 journaled in the easinn. and a series of index wheels 17. mounted to rotate in the casing, means being provided, as shown by said patent. for actuating the first of said wheels from the actuating shaft, and each of said wheels from the next in order. so that the number of rotations of the shalt is registered by the wheels in a well known manner. the Wheels heing visihle tlm'in 'h the sight. opening l5.

1% represents a pulley lixed to a shaft 19. iliit'll is jonrnaled in a haring It) on the Frame 12. b aid pnlley is eonneeted with the :yrionieter sha -it in. preferahl by gears J1 and :1; iixed to said shafts, and it prefer- :ddv has a grooved rim to hold the strip tile niateria it) long: nit and strong l'lexihle snip the strip may he subdivided and nrzrhei tn lndieate linear nieasnreinents.

ll. s nnni or reei 13-! is arranged to de ti" ship unwound therefrom to the p oi the pnlley lo. In praetiee the ineisnriiig' strip may he \ronirl one or more hit :n'nnnd the periphery ot' the pulley. so i i a snilieient. frirtional engzn enient ie litte when d "awn ontwardly the reel. To dirert the measuring n operative relation to the pulley. i no guides 2h. 2W attarhed to the 7 arranged to guide the ineasnrand l'rozn the periphery of the are end (i the strip may he made i r 1 ti :1 eiiitti snpperh or otl'i rwise held at ilvllj \rhieh a measurement is to he izdien. the rerl leing' adni'rted to rotate and he unwinding of the eord. when the nd nt is moved tL\';l l' lfliil said supliil from niiahle tensionine' means may he employed 1;; prevent too i'ree rotation of the re: l. and emisenient reeling oil' of the strip. I l l' t'i l devi -e adapted to serre that pur pose is ater desrrilved. ln addition. :i lurk et 'e tire to st p the reel and hold it fr m r 'rtati n is indieated as a lever pivoted :zr ii on the frame. and having a toot, to hea on the nnder head of the reel. and a, spring tending t remove said foot 'i'roni the re l. and a handle or trie'g 'er end Pit)" ot wt for denression h the thlln'ili oi the h nd whirl: 'ra the handle.

he ear f the nieasnrin," stint i;

31st a the stz ting point 'lrni'n whi l! the reyor traxelm the strip is unwound trnin the reel. and in passing: ahont the pillet 5. aernratel measures the distanee traveled from the starting point. For nieiisnring heights and depths rertieallr. i. izniv atta h :1 Weight s n-h as the hinnh hoh Id shown at Figure to the measuring strip and permit the weight to descend. For such use the strip is disengaged from the all) 1 i-1s es guid lfii} and i passed through a lndrli in th end ol' the taildet iii: ln'reinai'irr de serihmh and also through a guide hook Iii projeetin; llUHl the under side ol the Lahiet. ()r the weighted line may he allowed lo hang diirctrx; downward from the pulley in. in e ther of the hereln-nientioneil uses the orelonaeter :n-enratelj. measures the length of the strip whieh is drawn oil. and the gearing ll \illit'li the puller drires the ()"UlUlliLiil may he designed to give readings on the QYClUIDtU! in any units of an)* system o 1' measurement.

The reel is preferably mounted upon the earrier in a manner and hy means whieh permit it to he driven for winding up the strip. i spindle 2X3 is inonnted on the ear rier projeiiting upwardly. and on its lower end is tixied a hloel; 1m. and on its upper end s, loosely mounted a hlorlz 3T. harhed a not 3H. These liltit'hs are of pyramidal l'orm, wherein; they hare ronrergent angles or rihs. whieh enter the hore of and heroine inter locked with. the reel when the not 37 is screwed up tight. and thns prevent independent rotation of the reel on the spindle (Jr in plate oi the hloelzs formed as speeifieally herein shown and deserihed. other types of gripping elements having ribs or spurs to indent and seenre the reel may he used. The spindle 35 is rotatahly mounted. passing through a hearing: in the flarrier. and having seenred on its lower protruding: end a pinion 39. This pinion and the lower lll()ll{ 36 provide ahntnients lllllfilltiilij the frame and holding the. spindle lirml in an upright position. There is also seelired to the tinder side of the frame a sLr: p -l'tl, in Whieh also the spindle has a hearing, and hetn'een \rhieh and, the frame is a space wherein the pinion Iii). and also a gear 41. nieshine therewith are eontained. The gear il is secured upon a shaft 42 arranged snhstanfiall) as shown in l ignres 4 and 5. to whieh is attaehed a eranlc 43. adapted to he niannally rotated for driving! the reel in the winding-up direetion. This Ildllh is preterahl) detaehahln from the shaft. 42. eon" renientl r by having a. tapped socket adapted to he srreired on the threaded end of th shaft. Raid shaft also earries a. trielion hrake to oppose the too free unwinding rotation of the reel; and this hrake is eonren ently made as a eollnir H, splined upon the shaft. and having; spring arms i5 nhieh h ar on the under ide of the strap i l. with a pressure regulated hr a. nut it? thremiled upon the shaft, This nut and the erank -13 are. in eFTeet, eoniplemental leek nnts. earh oi whieli binds the other against. heing areidentally displaced.

Deserihingzf now the tablet 33 previously mentioned, the same is a flat plate which may be made of stiff sheet metal, Wood, or any other material, firm and light enough for the purpose, and adapted to support a record strip or sheet conveniently to enable the operator to write or mark upon it. The tablet is supported upon the frame 2 by means of arms +16, 46, secured to the frame and, projecting to one side therefrom. The most convenient form of record sheet for the use here contemplated, is a long paper strip, and to accommodate such a strip, I provide supply and takeup spools -17 and 48, which are hung beneath the tablet by brackets 4-9, 50. respectively. and are equipped with cranks 51. 52, for winding up the strip. Slots 53 and 54 are formed in the tablet for passage of the strip to and from said spools. Preferably, a compass 56, equipped with sighting vanes 57 and 58 of ordinary character, .is fastened on the tablet at one end thereof. The hook 34 previously mentioned, is located directly beneath the center of the compass, and is adapted to support a plumb bob to enable the compass to be used in the manner common with surveying instruments for laying a course from an exactly determined point. The compass is secured on the tablet by being clamped between posts 59, 59. and a set screw 60. in a manner which permits it to be readily removed and replaced, and also to be turned in position.

At the middle point of the opposite end of the tablet from the compass is a sighting element 61, in line with points 57 and 58. Figure 12, which are formed on or applied to the upper ends of the sighting vanes or compass standards 57, 58. respectively.

For the record strip or sheet, I prefer to use paper which is ruled with coordinate lines, either in the form of common cross section paper, or at any other desired angles, for the convenience of the surveyor in plotting the results of his observations. The record sheet is shown in Figure 10 and is designated by the letter P. There is also provided in connection with the tablet a protractor 63, which comprises a base plate adapted to be set on the tablet over the paper. and furnished with flanges 64. to re tain it 011 the tablet. and also to guide it while pern'iitting movement to any desired position over the paper. In the protractor is a circular opening, the edge of which is graduat d with a scale ol angular degrees, or if desired. any other direction indications, and within said opening is a. graduated ring 6.3. supported by braces 66. and at the common center of said, opening and ring is a. cent rally a pertured disk 66, supported from the ring by arms as. The aperture of said dish permits a pencil point to be located at the center of the protractor. With the aid of the proira tor lines may be drawn at exactly determined degrees of angle on the recorded sheet.

There is also supported from the carrier by means of brackets 67, a level or telescope 68, thathere shown being the familiar Locke or hand level. The position of this level is at one side of the reel and counting mechanism, and above the tablet, whereby the surveyor may look through its sighting bore for determining levels and elevations.

This instrument is conveniently used in surveying work by being carried by the surveyor in substantially the manner shown in Figure 15. Its weight is mainly borne by a brace rod 70, fastened at its lower end to a belt 71 worn by the surveyor. and at its upper end to a bar 72. brazed. or otherwise rigidly secured to the tablet supports -16. as indicated also in Figure 12 This bar. how ever, may equally well he dctachably secured to the tablet supports. That and of the brace rod which is connected to the instrument, is equipped with a ball and socket joint 73, shown in Figures 12 and 14, the ball member of which is formed with a stud 74, which is screwed into a tapped hole in a boss 75 on the bar 72. The brace rod is adjustable in length, as shown in Figure 15, and its adjustments are secured by a. set screw 76. A strap indicated at 77 and passing over the shoulder and under the arm of the surveyor to an attachment on the surveyors belt, although. any other convenient mode of fastening the strap may be used, is connected to a ring or loop 78. swivelled in the end of the base frame 12. and serves to assist in supporting and steadying the instrument, which finally is placed and held in the exact position for use by the surveyors hand grasping the handle shank 13. Bypropcr adjustment of the brace rod 70 and the strap 77. the instrument may be positioned with the level 68, on the level of the surveyors eye.

It will be apparent that the instrument having characteristic features as those shown and described. may be used for determining levels, hearings, courses. elevations and distances; and that the determination of distances is made with great accuracy and in a manner permitting instant reading at any time, by means of the measuring strip and the cyclomcter or counter. And notes. memoranda and plots may be recorded l'rom time to time whenever desired. upon the record sheet on the tablet.

The capabilites for accomplishing all the e results are embodied in an exceedingly compact instrument. of such light weight that ii can be easily carried by the surveyor over long distances with little effort. .vs 1hr weight of the instrument is borne entirely by the users body. his hand and arm are needed only to hold the instrument in the determined line ot sight. and this is Hil'llllb plished without fatiguing effort.

When used for taking observations and measurements requiring immobility of the instrument, the latter maybe disconnected from its brace rod by unscrewing the stud T4 of the ball and socket oint, and likewise disengaging it from the shoulder strap 77, and it may then be set on a staff, or a light tripod, such as that known in the art as Jacobs stall, since the handle shank i3 is formed with a socket in its lower end, to receive the stud of such a statf or tripod, as previously described. And when thus supported, the instrument may also be used for measuring distances vertically, by al lowing the weighted end of the measuring line to descend.

I have not intended the foregoing detailed description of one particular embodiment of my invention to be taken as a limitation in any manner of my claim for protection. Some of the elements of the combined device, such as the compass, hand level, cyclometer or counter, protractor, and spool or reel for the measuring strip, are or may be standard articles, obtainable in open market, and any one of a number of; differently made articles of this character may be assembled in the combination; or i may provide elements of special construction and design to serve the ends of the elements just particularly noted. For the rest, no further limitation of the scope oi. iny protection is to be implied otherwise than appears from the express language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A surveying instrument comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a surveyor, means for supporting the frame including a device adapted to be fitted to the surveyors body, and means on the frame for use in ascertaining the distance of the instrument from a starting point on horizontal, vertical and sloping lines including a flexible strip, a reel on which the strip is wound, and an indicator for displaying the length of the portion of the strip unwound from the reel.

:2. A surveying instrument comprising a frame adapted to be carried by a surveyor, means for supporting the frame including a belt adapted to be secured about the survcyors body, and means on the frame tor use in ascertaining the distance of the instrument from a starting point on horizontal, vertical and sloping lines including a flexible strip, a reel on which the strip is Wound, and an indicator for displaying the length of the portion of the strip unwound from the reel.

3. A surveying instrument comprising a portable carrier, a spindle journaled in the carrier, a supply reel engaged with the spindle, and having an elongated flexible measuring member wound thereon, a pulley journaled on the carrier, and adapted to be rotated by the withdrawal of the measuring member from the reel, and a counter in driven connection with the pulley, having means constructed and arranged to indicate the length of any portion of the measuring meml )(l' withdrawn from the rcel, the spindle bcin provided with means for rcleasably confining thc supply rcel thereon, so that a previously wound reel may be installed on the spindle.

l-. surveying instrument comprising a portable carrier. :1 spindle journalcd in thc carrier, a supply rccl engagcd with the spindle, and having an elongated llcxible measuring member wound thereon, a pulley jonrnaled on the arricr, and iitltll litt'l to be rotated by the withdrawal of the measuring member from the reel, a counter in driven connection with the pulley. having; means constructed, and arrangcd to indicate the length oi any portion of the mcasuring men ber withdrawn 'i'rou! the rcci, and tensioning means associated with the spindle to frictionally resist unwindim: rotation thereof.

5. A surveying instrunu-nt comprising; a portable carrier, a spindle journahul in the carrier, a supply reel engaged \"ith the spindle, and havingan elongute 'l tiexible measuring member wound thereon. a pulley journaled on the carrier. and adapted to be rotated by the withdrawal ol thc nn-asurim: member from the reel, :1 counter in driven connection with the pulley, having means constructed and arranged to indiczilc the length of any portion of the measuring member withdrawn from the reel. tcnsioning: means associatcd with the spindle to trictionally resist unvfimling rotation thereof, and manually operable means for rotating said reel to wind the measuring member thereon, said tensioning incaus bcing adapted to be rendered izuipcrativc, and thereby permit winding rotation of :he rel without frictional resistance.

6. A surveying instrument coa-piisiiuz a portable carrier. :1 spindle jouruulcd in the carrier. a supply rccl engaged with spindle. and halving an clomjafwl Eieaiblc measuring member wound then-con. :1. pulley journaled on the carrier, and adapted to be rotated by the withdrawal oi the mean urlng member from the reel, and a counter in driven connection with the pulley, having means constructed and arraz Had to iudicate the length of any poi-ta 7 ol' the measuring; member v. iibdran u ir-uu the "e-cl, the carrier be ng priiwilled with hard; adapted to be grasped by the opr nor, and with a normally inoperative IMLIm-hum' lever adjacent the shank.

i'. A surveying instrument comprising a portable carrier. adapted to support surveying instrumentalitics, said carrier being provided with means engageahlc with the operators body to support it in an elevated position, and with a shank adapted to be manipulated by one hand. of the operator loo to determine the angular position of the instrument, so that the instrument may be controlled without the employment of the other hand, the latter being free to perform other functions.

8. A surveying instrument comprising a portable carrier, adapted to support surveyin instrumentalities, a strut having a swive connection at its upper end with the carrier, a body-encircling belt connected with the lower end of the strut, and a shank attached to the carrier and adapted to be manipulated by one hand of the operator to turn the carrier on said swivel connection and thus determine the angular position of the carrier.

9. A surveying instrument comprising aportable carrier, adapted to support surveying instrumentalities, a strut having a swivel connection at its upper end with the carrier, a body-encircling belt connected with the lower end of the strut, a flexible strip engaged with the carrier and the belt and engageable with a shoulder of the operator, and a shank attached to the carrier and adapted to be manipulated by one hand of the operator to turn the carrier on said swivel connection and thus determine the angular position of the carrier.

10. A surveying instrument substantially as specified by claim 12, said strut being composed of sections, one slidable on the other to vary the length of the strut, and

with means for maintaining the strut at various lengths.

11. A device for the purpose described comprising a frame or carrier having a depending shank by which it can be supported, a reel mounted on the frame, an elongated flexible measuring member wound on the reel and means for indicating the amount of such member unwound from the reel, means adjacent said shank for rotating the reel to wind the measuring member thereon, and means extending into reach of the operators hand rasping the shank for lockin said reel against rotation.

12. device for the purpose described comprising a frame or carrier having a depending shank by which it can be supported, a reel mounted on said frame to turn about an axis parallel to the length of said shank, an elongated, flexible. measur ing member wound on said reel, means for indicating the amount of said measuring member unwound from the reel, a crank for rotating the reel to wind the measuring member thereon extending beyond the frame, friction means for checking rotation of the reel, and means for preventing rotation of the reel having an operative member adjacent the supportin shank.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WARREN H. MANNING. 

